Montreal police said three protesters were arrested on obstruction charges, with two of the three also charged with assaulting a police officer.

Footage posted on Twitter by local media showed protesters at the downtown venue standing, clapping and chanting at the panel.

"Our first priority at any hearing is always the safety of all participants," NEB spokeswoman Sarah Kiley said in an email. "Once we have determined how we will hear from those intervenors in Montreal who were scheduled to present today and tomorrow, we will share that information."

Environmental groups opposed to Canadian oil sands development have fought the 1.1 million-barrel-per-day Energy East pipeline, which would carry crude oil from Alberta to Canada's Atlantic coast.

Opposition has been particularly strong in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec, which the pipeline would need to cross on its way to the coast. Opponents include Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who has cited concerns the route could endanger forest and agricultural land.

Coderre told reporters on Monday the public needed answers on the number of jobs that would be created from the pipeline and TransCanada's contingency plan in case of a spill.

Unionized workers hoping to benefit from the construction work estimate the pipeline would create 2,000 jobs over three years in Quebec, where private investment in large projects has been hit by weak commodity prices.
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